Arkansas State Senate District 21
Arkansas State Senate District 21 is represented by Blake Johnson (R).
As of the 2020 Census, Arkansas state senators represented an average of 86,107 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 83,607 residents.
About the office
Members of the Arkansas State Senate are elected to four-year terms with term limits. The Arkansas legislature is one of 16 state legislatures with term limits. Arkansas senators are subject to term limits of no more than 12 consecutive years with the opportunity to return after a four-year break.[1]
Service in the state legislature is part-time. In the first election after the census, all 35 seats are up for election. The Senators "shall divide themselves into two classes, by lot, and the first class shall hold their places for two years only, after which all shall be elected for four years." Arkansas legislators assume office on the second Monday of January following their election.[2]
Qualifications
Article 5, Section 4 of the Arkansas Constitution states: "No person shall be a Senator or Representative who, at the time of his election, is not a citizen of the United States, nor any one who has not been for two years next preceding his election, a resident of this State, and for one year next preceding his election, a resident of the county or district whence he may be chosen. Senators shall be at least twenty-five years of age, and Representatives at least twenty-one years of age."[3]
Article 19, Section 3 of the Arkansas Constitution states: "No persons shall be elected to, or appointed to fill a vacancy in, any office who does not possess the qualifications of an elector."[4]
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[5] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $44,356/year | For legislators residing within 50 miles of the capitol: $59/day. For legislators residing more than 50 miles from the capitol: $166/day. |
Term limits
- See also: State legislatures with term limits
The Arkansas legislature is one of 16 state legislatures with term limits. The state Senate has been term-limited since Arkansas voters approved the Arkansas Term Limits Initiative in 1992 as an initiated constitutional amendment. The first year that the term limits enacted in 1992 impacted the ability of incumbents to run for office was 2000.
In 2014, voters approved the Arkansas Elected Officials Ethics, Transparency and Financial Reform Amendment which permitted legislators to serve a total of 16 years in the House or Senate during his or her lifetime.[6] In 2020, voters modified the term limits for Arkansas state legislative members. Voters passed Issue 2 in November 2020 with 55.38% of the vote. The measure imposed term limits of 12 consecutive years for state legislators with the opportunity to return after a four-year break. State legislators elected in November 2020 or already in office would be allowed to serve the former term limit of 16 years.
Vacancies
If there is a vacancy in the Arkansas General Assembly, the governor must call for a special election to fill the vacancy. The election must be called by the governor without delay.[7][8] For all special elections in the Senate, the county that first established the district is responsible for conducting the election.[9] If the special election is to fill a House seat, the county board of election commissioners representing the vacant district conducts the election.[10][11]
See sources: Arkansas Stat. Ann. § 7-11-103 and Arkansas Cons. Art. 5, § 6
District map
Redistricting
2020 redistricting cycle
On December 29, 2021, new state House and Senate district maps went into effect.[12] The Arkansas Board of Apportionment—made up of the governor, secretary of state, and attorney general—initially displayed these maps on Oct. 29, 2021, beginning a month-long public comment period.[13] The board met on Nov. 29 to incorporate feedback and then voted 3-0 in favor of the final maps. These maps took effect for Arkansas' 2022 legislative elections.
How does redistricting in Arkansas work? The Arkansas General Assembly is responsible for drawing congressional district lines. Both chambers of the state legislature must approve a single redistricting plan. The governor may veto the lines drawn by the state legislature.[14]
Arkansas' state legislative district lines are drawn by a politician commission, the Arkansas Board of Apportionment. The commission comprises the governor, the secretary of state, and the attorney general.[14]
The Arkansas Constitution requires that Arkansas State Senate district lines be "contiguous, and that they follow county lines except where necessary to comply with other legal requirements." There are no such requirements in place for congressional districts.[14]
Arkansas State Senate District 21
until January 8, 2023
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Arkansas State Senate District 21
starting January 9, 2023
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Elections
2022
- See also: Arkansas State Senate elections, 2022
General election
General election for Arkansas State Senate District 21
Incumbent Blake Johnson defeated Alfred Holland III in the general election for Arkansas State Senate District 21 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Blake Johnson (R) | 83.9 | 18,671 |
| Alfred Holland III (L) | 16.1 | 3,596 | ||
| Total votes: 22,267 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Arkansas State Senate District 21
Incumbent Blake Johnson defeated Curtis Hitt in the Republican primary for Arkansas State Senate District 21 on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Blake Johnson | 61.3 | 7,536 |
 | Curtis Hitt | 38.7 | 4,750 | |
| Total votes: 12,286 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for Arkansas State Senate District 21
Alfred Holland III advanced from the Libertarian convention for Arkansas State Senate District 21 on February 20, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Alfred Holland III (L) | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2020
- See also: Arkansas State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Arkansas State Senate District 21
Dan Sullivan won election in the general election for Arkansas State Senate District 21 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Dan Sullivan (R) | 100.0 | 28,542 |
| Total votes: 28,542 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Arkansas State Senate District 21
Dan Sullivan defeated incumbent John Cooper in the Republican primary for Arkansas State Senate District 21 on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Dan Sullivan | 58.6 | 5,493 |
 | John Cooper | 41.4 | 3,883 | |
| Total votes: 9,376 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
General election
General election for Arkansas State Senate District 21
Dan Sullivan won election in the general election for Arkansas State Senate District 21 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Dan Sullivan (R) | 100.0 | 28,542 |
| Total votes: 28,542 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Arkansas State Senate District 21
Dan Sullivan defeated incumbent John Cooper in the Republican primary for Arkansas State Senate District 21 on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Dan Sullivan | 58.6 | 5,493 |
| John Cooper | 41.4 | 3,883 | |
| Total votes: 9,376 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016
- See also: Arkansas State Senate elections, 2016
Elections for the Arkansas State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election was held on March 1, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing period began at noon local time on November 2, 2015, and ended at noon local time on November 9, 2015.[15]
Incumbent John Cooper ran unopposed in the Arkansas State Senate District 21 general election.[16]
| Arkansas State Senate, District 21 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican |  John Cooper Incumbent (unopposed) | |
| Source: Arkansas Secretary of State | ||
Incumbent John Cooper ran unopposed in the Arkansas State Senate District 21 Republican Primary.[17][18]
| Arkansas State Senate, District 21 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | John Cooper Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2014
John Cooper (R) defeated Steve Rockwell (D) in the special election, which took place on January 14.[19] Rockwell and Radius Baker advanced past Gene Roebuck and Ray Kidd in the Democratic primary.[20] Rockwell defeated Baker in the Democratic primary runoff.[21] Dan Sullivan and Cooper advanced past Chad Niell in the Republican primary.[20] Cooper defeated Sullivan in the Republican primary runoff.[21][22]
The seat was vacant following Paul Bookout's (D) resignation on August 21, 2013, after he was fined $8,000 by the Arkansas Ethics Commission for spending campaign funds on personal items.[23]
A special election for the position of Arkansas State Senate District 21 was called for January 14, with a primary on October 8, 2013. A primary runoff took place on November 12, 2013. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was September 6, 2013.[23]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | John Cooper |
57.2% | 4,318 | |
| Democratic | Steve Rockwell | 42.8% | 3,235 | |
| Total Votes | 7,553 | |||
2012
- See also: Arkansas State Senate elections, 2012
Elections for the office of Arkansas State Senate consisted of a primary election on May 22, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 1, 2012. Incumbent Paul Bookout ran uncontested in the May 22 Democratic primary before winning the general election without opposition.[24][25]
Campaign contributions
From 2002 to 2022, candidates for Arkansas State Senate District 21 raised a total of $1,328,121. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $94,866 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money
| Campaign contributions, Arkansas State Senate District 21 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Amount | Candidates | Average |
| 2022 | $192,037 | 3 | $64,012 |
| 2020 | $408,016 | 2 | $204,008 |
| 2016 | $86,499 | 1 | $86,499 |
| 2012 | $80,950 | 1 | $80,950 |
| 2010 | $390,428 | 2 | $195,214 |
| 2008 | $6,500 | 1 | $6,500 |
| 2006 | $48,950 | 1 | $48,950 |
| 2004 | $10,353 | 1 | $10,353 |
| 2002 | $104,388 | 2 | $52,194 |
| Total | $1,328,121 | 14 | $94,866 |
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Arkansas State Legislature, "Constitution of the State of Arkansas of 1874," accessed January 14, 2015
- ↑ Justia, "Arkansas Constitution Article 5 - Legislative Department Section 5 - Time of meeting," accessed October 26, 2021
- ↑ Justia, "Arkansas Constitution Article 5 - Legislative Department Section 4 - Qualifications of senators and representatives," accessed May 21, 2025
- ↑ Justia, "Arkansas Constitution Article 19 - Miscellaneous Provisions," accessed May 23, 2025
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ Arkansas Legislature, "HJR1009," accessed February 9, 2021
- ↑ Arkansas Legislature, "Arkansas Code - Unannotated," accessed February 9, 2021 (Statutes, 10-2-118)
- ↑ Arkansas Legislature, "Arkansas Code - Unannotated," accessed February 9, 2021 (Statutes, 10-2-119)
- ↑ Arkansas Legislature, "Arkansas Code - Unannotated," accessed February 9, 2021 (Statutes, 10-2-120(a)(1))
- ↑ Arkansas Legislature, "Arkansas Code - Unannotated," accessed February 9, 2021 (Statutes, 7-11-103(a))
- ↑ Arkansas Legislature, "Arkansas Code - Unannotated," accessed February 24, 2025 (Statutes, 7-11-105 1 (a)-(c))
- ↑ Democracy Docket, "Arkansas State Conference NAACP v. The Arkansas Board of Apportionment complaint," Dec. 29, 2021
- ↑ Arkansas Online, "Arkansas board accepts redrawn legislative district maps," Oct. 30, 2021
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 All About Redistricting, "Arkansas," accessed April 20, 2015
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "2016 Election Dates," accessed November 17, 2015
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "2016 General Election and Nonpartisan Runoff Election," accessed November 23, 2016
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "Candidate Information," accessed July 25, 2016
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "2016 Primary Election Results," accessed April 19, 2016
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, "Official special election results," accessed January 30, 2014
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 therepublic.com, "GOP, Democrats each headed to runoff for Ark. Senate seat in special election," October 8, 2013
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 kait8.com, "AR State Senate District 21 Primary Final Results," November 12, 2013
- ↑ sos.arkansas.gov, "Official candidate list," accessed September 9, 2013
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 arkansasmatters.com, "Gov. Beebe Sets Special Election to Replace Recently Resigned Senator," August 28, 2013
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, “2012 General Election,” October 21, 2013
- ↑ Arkansas Secretary of State, “2012 General Primary,” October 21, 2013
